Stacking-machine.



B. G. RICHARDS. STAGKING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 81, 1913.

1 1 1 7,244, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETSBHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS co.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. c

ZZZ/1e a B. G. RICHARDS.

STACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31, 191s.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETSSEEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca, PHOTO LITHOH WASHING ION D c.

B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a1, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETSSHEET 3,

B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a1, 1913.

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B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17,191 L 13 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

120.. PHOTO-LITHLI. WASHINGTON, n. c.

THE NORRIS PETERS B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

1, 1 1 7,244, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 'l.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHO1D-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D4 6 .B. G. RICHARDS.

' STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

,4 Z q Z; 14 J .s %z,z mm 12; m J a Mm /(/A L a. w i k t z w W? HENORRIS PETERS c0. FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING I'ON, D. c.

B. G. RICHARDS. STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

THE women. IETFRS (20.. PHOTO B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31, 1913.

1,1 17,244. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

13 SHEETSSHEET 11.

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B. G. RICHARDS.

STAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913. 1 1 1 7,244, Patented Nov. 17, 1914. 13SHEETSSHEET 12.

THE NORRIS PETERS cu m B. G. RICHARDS.

STACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913 PatentedNov. 17, 191% 13 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRAYTON G. RICHARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CAREY A.CHESHIRE,

' OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

STACKING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914..

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No 770,982.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRAYTON Gr. RIGH- nnns, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Stacking-lvlachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a certain new and useful stacking machineespecially adapted for use in conjunction with book assembling machinesand has for its object the provision of a machine of this characterwhich is capable of automatically stacking assembled books with greatrapidity and accuracy ready for bundling.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter which is of simple construction and efficient in use. i

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described'and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partial side view of a machine embodying my invention,Fig. 2, an enlarged section taken on line a-a of Fig. 1, Fig. :3, anenlarged top plan view of a portion of the machine with the table.portion thereof removed for the sake of clearness and showing the mainpower shaft and its driving and driven connections, Fig. 4, a sectionalview shown partially in elevation taken on the main power shaft of themachine, Fig. 5, an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the machinewith portions removed for the'sake of clearness and showing themechanism for discharging the assembled books, Fig. 6, a section takenon line Z)b of Fig. 5, Fig. 7, a section at right angles to Fig. 6, Fig.8, a top plan view of a reversing hopper employed in the machine withportions broken away for clearness, Fig. 8, a detail section of a clutchmechanism employed for operating the reversing hopper, Fig. 9, a sideelevation of the reversing hopper, Fig. 10, a horizontal section of thereversing hopper, Fig. 11, an enlarged detail section through one edgeof the reversing hopper, Fig. 12, a top plan view of a removing tableemployed in the machine, Fig. 13, a section taken through the removingtable, Fig. 14, an enlarged top plan view showing means for adjustingthe size of removing hoppers employed in the machine, Fig. 15, a sectiontaken on line cc of Fig. 14, Fig. 16, a section of the removing table,and Fig. 17, a horizontal section taken immediately under the removingtable, on line cZ-fil of Fig. 16.

, The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingscomprises a stacking machine table 1 which is open or longitudinallyslotted in its central portion and is suitably supported upon standardsor frames 2 as shown. Table 1 is arranged to constitute a continuationof an upwardly inclined table 3 which is longitudinally slotted asindicated and is suitably support- ,ed on suitable standards or frames4, said table 3 being arrangedto constitute acontinuation of a table 5which is provided with longitudinal slots 6 and constitutes thesupporting table of a book assembling ma chine. Two pairs of feed chains7 and 8 are arranged under tables 5 and 3, said chains 7 and 8 beingprovided with upwardly extending adjustable pins 9 and 10 respectivelyprojecting upwardly through the slots in tables 5 and 3 and arranged toposition and feed articles, such as assembled books along said tables.

The book assembling machine, in conjunction with which my invention isillustrated constitutes no part of my invention, the same being theinvention of Carey A. Cheshire, and is fully set forth and described inhis application for Letters Ratent filed May 31, 1913, Serial No.771,003. Inasmuchas no claim is madeherein to the details of saidassembling machine, and the details thereof being fully set forth in thesaid application of the said Carey A. Cheshire, no further descriptionof said assembling machine is needed here, it being sutlicient to statethat said assembling machine is soarranged and constructed as toassemble the various sections of a book one, on top of the other in apile inbook form, on table5 between the diiferent sets of fingers 9 and10 and push said assembled books along table 5 and onto the upwardlyinclined table 3.

Arranged over table 3 is a pair of sprocket chains 11 the lower portionsof which are supported and guided in suitable guides 12 and the upperportions of which are supported and guided by suitable guide rollers 13mounted on frames 1, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Chains 11 are passedover suitable sprocket wheels 1% and 15 mounted as indicated, sprocketwheel 15 being driven by means of a sprocket chain 16 operativelyconnected with the main power shaft of the machine, as will be describedmore fully hereinafter. At suitable intervals transversely registeringsupporting lugs 17 are secured to the links of chains 11 and areprovided with longitudinal slots 18, said lugs serving to supporttransverse bars 19 which are adjustably secured to said lugs by means ofbolts 20. (See Fi g. 5.) Each of the bars 19 carries a pair ofdownwardly projecting pins 21, there being a bar 19 and a pair of thepins 21 arranged to cooperate with the corresponding pins 9 on chains 7,said pins 21 when traveling on the lower portion of sprocket chains 11,being arranged to register transversely with the pins 9 but being out oflongitudinal alinement therewith so as to not interfere and said pins 21being of a length to just overlap the upper ends of pins 9 so as tocooperate therewith to feed the assembled books along the upwardlyinclined table 3 as will be readily understood. By this arrangement, itwill be observed, that as each assembled book passes onto table 3 underthe influence of the corresponding pins 9 the corresponding pins 21 willassume positions in transverse alinement with pins 9 and cooperatetherewith to force the assembled book along table 3. As the bookproceeds along table 3 it gradually rises to a height above the heightof pins 9, the pins 9 will gradually withdraw from contact with the bookbeing fed until said book is completely removed from contact with pins 9and pins 9 will then be free to continue their travel withoutinterfering with the assembled books. As each book is thus graduallywithdrawn from the domination of pins 9, they come under the dominationof the corresponding pins 21 until when the books pass onto table 1 theyare completely under the domination of pins 21 and entirely free frompins 9.

Arranged in table 1 is a pair of downwardly and outwardly swinging trapdoors 22 which are provided with longitudinal grooves 22 which permit ofthe passage of pins 21 as shown in Fig. 7. Trap doors 22 are eachsecured to a shaft 23 which is ro tat-ably mounted on the under side oftable 1 and is provided at one end with a downwardly extending arm 2%.lhe arms 2% are connected by links 25 with a centrally positioned lever26 as shown in Fig. 7 so that said trap doors are forced to operate orswing in unison with each other. Trap doors 22 are normally held insupporting positions by means of springs 27 having catches 28 thereonadapted to engage the edges of said trap doors. The springs 27 arerigidly secured to a rod 29 suitably sup ported in suitable brackets 30and 30 ar ranged upon one of the standards 2 as indicated. Springs 27are rigidly connected together by means of a cross bar 31 which in turnis connected by a link 32 with the lower end of a trip lever 33 mountedin a bracket 34 on standard 2. The upper end of trip lever 33 projectsupwardly in the slot in table 1 in the path of the lower ends of aplurality of tripping pins 86 which are adjustably secured in slots 37in cross bars 38 secured to chains 11 as shown, there being one of thecross bars 38 to correspond with each of the cross bars 19, so that bneof the pins 36 is provided to cooperate with Still pair of pins 21. Bythis arrangement it will be observed, that when trip lever is struck byone of the pins 36 it will be operated to withdraw catches 28 to releasetrap doors 22. Pins 36 are so positioned with re spect to thecorresponding pins 21 that when an assembled book is positionedcentrally on trap doors 22, said. trap doors will be tripped to permitsaid assembled. book to fall through table 1. By properly adjusting pins21 and 36 for diiierent sizes of books, any book fed along table 1 andwithin the range of adjustments of pins 21 and 36 may be positionedcentrally on trap doors and then dropped through table 1.

Arranged immediately below trap doors 22 and positioned centrally withrespect thereto is a rectangular hopper 39 which is provided withdownwardly swinging trap doors 1-0 constituting the bottom thereof.Hopper 89 is supported in a gear 41 which is provided with a centralrectangular opening for this purpose said hopper being pro vided withflanges 12 around its upper edge resting upon gear 41-1, and said gearbeing positioned with its axis centrally under trap doors 22. Hopper 39is provided with a plurality of adjustable angular lars -13 which areadj ustably secured to flange 4-2 by means of bolts 44. taking throughslots 4-5, as shown. Gear 11 is rotatably mounted on ball bearings 16arranged in an annular support 17 which is suitably mounted in the framework of the machine as shown. The gear ail meshes with a pinion 418which is loosely mounted on a vertical shaft 49 arranged at the rear ofthe machine and driven through the medium of a flanged pulley 50 asindicated in Fig. 7. Gear 18 carries on its upper side a clutch member51 which cooperates with a clutch member w hich is splined or featheredon shaft 49 so as to permit of longitudinal movement of said clutchmember while rotating with said shaft 49, a spring 53 being interposedbetween said clutch members to hold them normally apart.

Clutch member 52 carries a loose collar 5% which is given a slot and pinconnection 55 with a fork 56 on the end of the lower arm 57 of a bellcrank lever pivoted in a support 58 on the frame of the machine. Theother arm 59 of said bell crank lever is connected by means of a link 60with one arm 61 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted at 62 on theframe of the, machine. The other arm 63 of said bell crank is providedwith a longitudinal slot 6% and an operating finger 65 is provided witha slot 66 and adjustably secured to arm 63 by means of a bolt 67. Everyother one of the cross bars 19 carries a downwardly extending pin 68 or68, said pins being positioned in thecore responding cross bar outsideof the path of the adjacent pin 21. and in position to contact with theend of finger 65 as the corresponding bar 19 travels byv said finger.The pins 68 are somewhat longer than the pins 68 and alternatetherewith, for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter. By thisarrangement it will be observed that as each of the pins 68-68 passesthe finger 65, said finger will be operated to rock bell crank 61-63which in turn will operate bell crank 5759 to throw clutch 52 intoengagement with clutch 51 and thus place pinion 48 under the dominationof shaft t9. This will cause rotation of gear -11 and consequently ofhopper 39. By adjusting the position of finger 65 longitudinally withrespect to trap doors 22, the time at which hopper 39 will be rotatedmay be regulated within the range of said adjustment and by adjustingsaid finger on arm 63, the time during which said finger will beoperated to place said hopper 39 under the domination of shaft 49 mayalso be regulated.

A cain member 69 is secured to the top of gear %1 and is provided withdiametric V- shaped notches 7 0 which are adapted to receive rollers 71which are carried by springs 72' suitably mounted on the frame of themachine and adjustable by means of set screws 73. The cam member 69 isshaped so that its outer periphery gradually rises or increases in widthfrom each of the notches to the other and oppositely to the direction ofrotation of gear 41. By this arrangement, it will be observed, that whengear e21. is rotated as described above, the rollers 71 will ride out ofthe corresponding notches 70 and ride upon the corresponding camsurfaces of the cam69, and thus tend to stop or check the rotation ofgear 4C1 and'hopper 39. The finger 65 is so adjusted as to hold clutchmembers 51 and 52 in engagement until a partial rotation of said gearand hopper have been effected and enough momentum imparted thereto tocontinue the rotation until notches 70 arrive opposite rollers 71 which"thereupon snap into said notches to position said hopper under said trapdoors after having completed exactly one-half of'a rotation, sucha'result being rendered obtainable by the various adjustments afiordedas set forth above. v

As explained above the pins 68 and 68 are only placed on every other oneof the cross bars 19 so that this half rotation of hopper 39 only occursafter every other as sembled book has been dropped therein from trapdoors 22, so that when said assembled books are deliveredfrom saidhopper they will be delivered alternately in reversed positions.

Another operating finger 74 is adjustably secured to an arm 7 6 rigidlyconnected with a vertical shaft 77 arranged at the rear of the machine,said finger 74: having its outer or free end set in the path of the pins21 on the corresponding side of the machine. By adjusting the extent ofthe projection of finger 'F-i and its longitudinal position on arm 7 6,it will be observed that the time of the contact of said finger with thecorresponding pin 21 may be regulated and also the extent of themovement of said finger. Shaft 77 carries an arm 78 whichis'operativelyconnected with a lever 79 in turn connected by means of a link 80 withthe arm 2-1 on the corresponding shaft 23. A

coil spring 81 has one of its'ends secured to i shaft 77 and its otherend secured to the shaft bearing 82, said spring being so coiled andarranged as to tend to rotate shaft 77 to facilitate the fall ofv trapdoors 22 and also to move finger 74c in the direction opposite to thateffected by its contact with the corresponding pin 21. By thisarrangement it will be observed that when trap doors 22 fall to permitthe passage of an assembled book, finger 7% will be swung into the pathof the corresponding pins 21 so that'as the-next corresponding pin 21passes theposition' of finger 74, it will engage said finger and rotateshaft 77 tocauseoperation of lever 7 9 to reset the trap doors 22, saidtra) doors bein automaticall en 'a ed bv l a spring catches 28 and heldin their normal supporting positions. By properly adjusting finger '74:on arm 76 the time at which the resetting of the trap doors takes placemay be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of books. Shaft 77 alsocarries an arm 83 which is connected by a link 84 with the upper end ofa lever 85 suitably mounted Each of the cross bars 88 is rigidly securedto two spring-held latching members 89, said latching members beingprovided with catches 90 adapted to engage under the edges of trap doorsto hold said trap doors normally in elevated or supporting positions.The bars 88 are operatively con nected at their ends by means of links91 connected with levers 92 so as to cause said spring-held latchingmembers 89 to operate in unison with each other. By this arrangement, itwill be observed that when trap doors are reset by the action of fingerT1, arm 83 will operate through the medium of link 8% and levers 85 and86 to press one of the pins 87 inwardly to cause the latches S0 torelease trap doors 410 and permit the discharge of an assembled book inhopper 39.

Each of the trap doors 10 is secured to a shaft 03 which is rotatablymounted on the corresponding side of hopper 39 adjacent to the bottomthereof as indicated. Each of the shafts 08 carries arms 93 which areoperatively connected with the corresponding arms on the other shaft bymeans of links 9-1 and lever 95 so as to cause operation of said trapdoors in unison with each other. Each of the shafts 03 also carries anarm 90 having outwardly turned pins 9'7 at their lower ends, said arms90 and pins 97 being arranged atopposite ends of the shafts 03 anddiametrically opposite each other with respect to the center of rotationof hopper 39. n. lever 98 is pivotally mounted on the frame of themachine in operative relation with one of the pins 9'7, so that whensaid trap doors are tripped and swing downwardly one of the pins 07 willswing into contact with the upper end of lever 98 so as to be operablethereby. Lever 98 is connected by means or a lin r 09 with an arm 100which is rigf llv secured to the lower end of a vertical siatt 101arranged in the frame at the front side of the machine. Shaft 101carries a slotted arm 102 to which an operating finger 103 is adjustablysecured by means of a bolt 101, the outer end of the finger 1.03 beingset in the path of the pins 21 on the corresponding side of the machine.By this arrangement it will be observed that as the pins 21 on thecorresponding side of the machine pass finger 103, said finger will berocked to causerocking of shaft 101. and consequent operation 01 lever98 to reset trap doors 10, and that by adjusting finger 103 on arm 102the time at which said trap doors will be reset may be varied toaccommodate different sizes of assembled books. 9.1 rotatable deliveringtable 105 is arranged with one edge under hopper 39 and is provided onits periphery with a gear 105. A. pinion 100 which is loosely mounted onshaft meshes with gear 105 and serves to rotate said gear and table 105.Gear 106 is provided with aclutch member 107 co6perating with a clutchmember 108 splined on shaft 419 and normally held out or engagement withclutch member 10'? by means of a spring 109. The clutch members 107 and10S operate in precisely the same manner as clutch members 51 and andneed no further description here. Glutch member 108 is operativelyconnected with. a bell crank lever 110 which in turn is operativelyconnected with an arm 111 carried by a vertical shaft 112 suitablymounted at the rear of the machine. Shaft 112 carries a slotted arm 113to which an operating finger 11 1 is adjustably secured by means of abolt 115. The outer end of finger 11 1 is set in the path of the lowerends of the pins 08, said finger 11 1 being set slightly lower thanfinger 65, so that pins 68, which are slightly longer than pins 68 willcontact with finger 11d but pins 68 will not contact therewith. Thus, itwill be observed, that linger 114 will be operated as every fourth bar19 passes over trap doors Operation of finger 11 1 by pin 68 causesrocking of shaft 112 and consequent shifting of clutch 108 intoengagement with clutch 107 thus causing rotation of table 105. Byadjusting finger 114.- on arm 113, the time at which the rotation oftable 105 is eil'ected and the extent of such rotation may be variedwithin the range of such adjustments. Inasmuch as the pins 68 occur onevery fourth bar 19, and there is one oi? said bars for every assembledbook delivered to hopper 30 and thence to table 105, it will beobserved, hat after the delivery of tour boo {S to said table, saidtable will be rotated as above described. By varying the distances apartof the longer pins 68 the number of books delivered to table 105 betweeneach movement thereof may be varied as desired.

Table 105 carries a cam member 110 which is provided with four V-shapednotches 110 located in its periphery ninety degrees apart. Rollers 11'?are carried by the free ends of springs 118 which are suitably securedto a base plate 118 arranged under table 105, and the tension 01?springs 118 is rendered adjustable by means oi set screws 110, as shownin Fig. 17. The periphery oi cam member 116 is shaped to gradually riseor increase in diameter iron each notch 116 to the next notch 116reversely with respect to the rotation of said cam member. By thisarrangement it will be observed that when table 105 commences to rotateas above explained, the rollers 11? will ride out of notches 116 andride upon cam surfaces of cam member 110 so as to eit'ect a braking orstopping action on table 105. By properly adjusting finger 11 1 andsprings 118, the parts may be adjusted so that at each operation offinger 1141 table 105 will be caused to run through a quarter of arevolution and then be stopped and accurately positioned by means ofspring rollers 117 as will be readily understood.

A plurality of receiving hoppers are formed on table in position toreceive the assembled books dropped from reversing hopper 39 asexplained above, each of said hoppers being so positioned as to comeinto registration with the hopper 39 after each one-fourth revolution ofthe table 105 as explained above. .Each of said receiving hoppersconsists of four upstanding angle irons 120 and 121, the angle irons 121being arranged at the rear of each hopper with respect to the directionof rotation of table 105 and the rear leg 122 thereof being mounted onspring hinges which permit of rearward swinging thereof so as to facilitate the removal of books from said receiving hoppers. Each pair ofangle irons 120 and 121 is adjustably secured on slotted bars by meansof a screw bolt 124 which engages a threaded block or nut 125 sliding ina T-slot in bar 123 as indicated in Figs. Li and 15. By this arrangementit 'will'be observed that the corresponding angle irons in eachreceiving hopper may be adjusted toward and away from each other. Bars123 are adjustably secured to slotted plates 126 by means of screw bolts127 engaging threaded blocks or nuts 128 sliding in a T-slot in plates126 as shown in Figs. 12, ii and 15. By this arrangement it will beobserved that the angle irons 120 and 121 may be adjusted to differentsizes of books delivered from hopper 39. 1

Arranged in the bottom of each of the receiving hoppers is anirregularly shaped supporting member 129 which is positioned above thetop of table 105 and isarranged to support a pile of assembled books inthe corresponding hopper above the top of table 105, and at the'sametime permit of the adjustments of angleirons 120 and 121 abovedescribed. At its rear, support 129 is provided with a notch 130 adaptedto permit the insertion of the hand of an operator to facilitate removalof the pile of books from said receiving hoppers i As mentioned abovethe machine is driven by a-sprocket chain 16 on a shaft 131 which is inturn driven through gears 132and 133 from the main power. shaft 134 ofthe machine, said power shaft being driven by power belt 135. Shaft 13%also'car'ries a pulley 136 which is connected by a belt 137 with a smallpulley 1,38 loosely mounted on a shaft 139. Pulley 13S'is secured to alarge pulley 1A0 which is connected by a belt 141 with a small pulley142 loosely mounted on shaft 134. Pulley 142 is secured to a largerpulley 143 which in turn is connected by a twisted belt l-lsl withpulley 50 on shaft 49. By this arrangement, it will be observed thatsprocket wheels 15 will be properly operated to drive chains 11 andshaft 19 rotated at a high rate of speed. A sprocket chain 1A5 connectsshafts 13-1 and 1 39, and shaft 139 is employed to operate the bookassembling machine mentioned above as being the invention of Carey A.

Cheshire, which it is. thought needs no further description here. Anautomatic stopping mechanism 1A6 is also mounted'on shaft 13 1 which isconnected with and operated by the book'assembling machine as ex- Iplained in the application ofiithe said Carey A. Cheshire, but inasmuchas this automatic stopping mechanism constitutes no. part; of ipyinvention it needs no further description ere.

The stacking machine above, described will stack assembled :bookswhether fed thereto by hand or other mechanism with great rapidity andin alternately reversed positions so that the same may be readilybundled in an ordinary bundling press. By alternately reversing theassembled books the folded edges thereof, which are natu rally somewhatthicker than the other edges, alternate with saidother edges thuspreserving an even pile .and greatly facilitating the bundling andstorage of said bundled.

Having described 'my invention what I I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: H

1. A stacking machine comprising a :conveyer; means for removingarticles from said conveyer; means for reversingthe posi tion of everyother one ofsaidar ti cles; and means for vplacing apluralityof,saidarticles adjacent each other, substantially as described. 1

v 2. A stacking machine comprising aconveyer; means for causing articlesto fall through said conveyor; means for reversing the position of everyother one of'said articles; and means for placing a plurality .of

said articles adjacent :each other, 'substantially as described. I 3, Astacking machine comprisingaaconveyer; meanstfor causing articles tofall I through said conveyer; means for reversing the position of everyother'one of said articles; and means for catching a plurality of saidarticles in a'pile, psubstantially'as de scribed. v at. A stackingmachlne comprising a conveyor; means for. causing articles to fall Its)through said conveyor; means for reversing the position of every otherone of said articles; means for catching a plurality of said articles ina pile; and means for removing said pile, substantially as described.

5. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; means for pushingarticles along said table; means for removing articles from said table;means for reversing the position of every other one of said articles;and means for placing a plurality of articles adjacent each other,substantially as described.

6. A stacking machine comprising a sup porting table; means for pushingarticles along said table; means for causing articles to fall throughsaid table; means for reversing the position of every other one of saidarticles; means for catching a plurality of said articles in a pile; andmeans for removing said pile, substantially as described.

7. A stacking machine comprising a sup porting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; means for removing articles downwardly from said table; and meansfor reversing every other one of said articles, substantially asdescribed.

8. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; means for causing articles to fall through said table; and meansfor reversing every other one of said articles, substantially asdescribed.

9. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; and automatic means fortripping said trap doors to permit the fall of said articles,substantially as described.

10. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; automatic means for trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles; and automatic meansfor resetting said trap doors after each operation thereof,substantially as described.

11. A stacking machine comprising a sup porting table; a travelingmember arranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table;

and automatic means operable by said traveling member, for tripping saidtrap doors to permit the fall of said articles, substantially asdescribed.

12. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; automatic means operable bysaid traveling member, for tripping said trap doors to permit the fallof said articles; and automatic means, operable by said travelingmember, for resetting said trap doors after each operation thereof,substantially as described.

13. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; automatic means for trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles; means for catchingeach fallen article separately; means for rotating said catching meansonehalf of a rotation after the fall of every other one of saidarticles; and means for releasing said caught articles, substantially asdescribed.

14-. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a travelingmember arranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; automatic means for trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles; automatic means forresetting said trap doors after each operation thereof; means forcatching each fallen article separately; means for rotating saidcatching means onehalf of a rotation after the fall of every other oneofsaid articles; and means for releasing said caught articles,substantially as described.

15. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table;

automatic means operable by said. traveling member, for tripping saidtrap doors to permit the fall of said articles; means for catching eachfallen article separately;

means for rotating said catching means one half of a rotation after thefall of every other one of said articles; and means for rcleasing saidcaught articles, substantially as described.

16. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member 1,11%244 V i I, I "7 arranged to contact with and pusharticles along said table; trap doors arranged in saidtable; automaticmeans operable by said traveling member, for tripping said trap doors topermit the fall of said articles; au-

tomatic means, operable by said traveling member, for resetting saidtrap doors after each operation thereof; means for catching each fallenarticle separately; means for ro- 10 tating said catching means one-halfof a rotation after the fall of every other one of said articles; andmeans for releasing said caught articles, substantially as described.

17. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in said table; automatic means for trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles; means for catchingeach fallen article separately; automatic means, operable by saidtraveling member, for rotating said catching means one-half of arotation after the fall of every other one of said articles; andautomatic means, operable by said traveling member, for releasing saidcaught articles, substantially as described.

v 18. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a travelingmember arranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member .arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable;trap doors arranged in i said table; automatic means for trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles; automatic means forresetting said trap doors after each operation thereof; means forcatching each fallen article sepa rately; automatic means, operable bysaid traveling member, for rotating said catching means one-half of arotation after the fall of every other one of said articles; andautomatic means, operable by said traveling member, for releasing saidcaught articles, substantially as described.

19. A stacking machine comprising a supporting table; a traveling memberarranged above said table; downwardly projecting members on saidtraveling member arranged to contact with and push articles along saidtable; trap doors arranged in. said table; automatic means operable bysaid traveling member. for tripping said trap doors to permit the fallof said articles; means for catching each fallen article separately;automatic means, operable by said travelingmember. for rotating saidcatching means one-half of a rotation after the fall of every other oneof said articles; and automatic means. operable by said travelingmember. for releasing said caught articles, substantially as described.

es 20. A stacking machine comprising a supa rotation after I the fall ofevery other .10

porting table; a traveling member arranged above said table; downwardlyprojecting members on said traveling member arranged to contact with andpush articles along said table; trap doors arranged in said table; 73automatic means operable by said traveling member, for tripping saidtrap doors to permit the fall of said articles; automatic means,operable. by said traveling member, for resetting said trap doors aftereach op- 75 eration thereof; means for catching each fallen articleseparately; automatic means, operable by said traveling member, forrotating said catching means one-half of a rotation after the fall ofevery other one of said articles; and automatic means, operable by saidtraveling member, for releasing said caught. articles, substantially asdescribed.

21. Astacking machine comprising a con- 5 veyer; means for causingarticles to fall from said conveyer; a rotatable member arranged tocatch each fallen article; automatic means for rotating said catchingmember one-half of a rotation after the fall of every other article; andmeans for releasing said caught articles,substantially as described.

I 22. A stacking machine comprising a conveyer; means for causingarticles to fall .95 from said conveyer; a rotatable member arranged tocatch each fallen article; automatic means, operable by-said conveyer,for rotating said catching member one-half of article; and means forreleasing said caught articles, substantially as described.

23. A stacking machine comprising a conveyer; means for causing articlesto fall from said conveyer; a rotatable member ar- .105 ranged to catcheach fallen article; auto matic means for rotating said catching memberone-half of. a rotation after the fall of every other article; trapdoors for said catching member; and automatic means for 11.10 trippingsaid trap doors to permit the fall of said articles, substantially asdescribed.

24. A stacking machine comprising a conveyer; means for causing articlesto fall from said conveyer; a rotatable member an 1-1-5 ranged to catcheach fallen article; automatic means, operable by said conveyer, forrotating said catching member one-half of a rotation after the fall ofevery other article; trap doors for said catching memher; and automaticmeans for tripping said trap doorsto permit the fall of said articles,substantially as described.

25. A stacking machine comprising a con- .veyer; means for causingarticles to fall 1 25 from said conveyer; a rotatable member arranged tocatch each fallen article; automatic means for rotating said catchingmember one-half of a rotation after-the fall of every other article;trap doors for said 1130

